Seal.



W. O. MARTINEAU & E. J. AUSTIN.

SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED BBQ 9. 1910.

1,012,882, I Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

WDTNE$5E INVENTO R's 1| m uwu C(IHWASIIINGTOH n c UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. MARTINEAU, OF ALBANY, AND EDWARD J. AUSTIN, OF GLOVEBSVILLE,

NEW YORK; SAID AUSTIN ASSIGNOB TO SAID MABTINE-AU.

SEAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 596,419.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WVILLIAM C. MAR- TINEAU and EDWARD J. AUSTIN, both citizens of the United States of America, and residing, respectively, the said WILLIAM C. MARTINDAU at the city of Albany, county of Albany, and State of New York, and the said EDWARD J. AUsTIN at the city of Gloversville, in the county of Fulton and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seals, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to seals particularly adapted for use on railway cars, and the objects of our invention are to provide an inexpensive and easily adjusted seal which cannot be opened without breaking the box, or tampered with without detection; together with such elements and combinations as are hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed. e accomplish these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the seal and the wire to which the seal blocks are attached. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the seal and the engaging blocks after one of the blocks has been locked. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4: is a plan of the plate, A, before folding. Fig. 5 is an end elevation.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

For the purpose of constructing a seal in a very economical and efficient manner we form the locking box, or seal proper, L, by folding one end of the thin metallic plate, A, in the form of a box open at each end and provided with inwardly. extending lips, B, C. We then insert in the ends of the locking box, L, thus formed, theblocks, D, E, adapted to engage the lips, B, C, which blocks are united by a cable, F, as shown in Flg. 1.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 4: we show the plate, A, near one end of whlch we stamp and inwardly press the lips, B, We then fold the plate, A, which is of thin metallic substance, along the line, d, until the portion containing the lips, B, G, 1s substantially at right angles to the maln portion of the plate, A. We then fold the plate again along the line, 0, atright angles to the plate, A, and again along the line, b, at right angles to the main portlon of the plate,

A, and thenlalong the line, a, also at right angles to the plate, A. The folded portion Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

will then assume the position shown in Fig. 1, the portlon having the lips, B, 0, being next to and protected by the main body of the plate, A. There will thus be formed a box having open ends, covered on all sides and provided with two inwardly projecting lips, B, C.

We harden the turned-over portions of the plate, A, after they are in the position shown in Fig. 1, by any well known hardening process so that they cannot be unfolded or bent.

For the purpose of uniting the wire or cable, F, we preferably place the blocks, D, E, on each end thereof, each block provided w1th a notch, G, H, respectively, and so ar ranged that as the block, D, for instance, is pushed into the locking box, L, the end portion, J, of the block will press against the lip, B; but when the block has been inserted into the box so far that the end portion, J, has passed the end of the lip, B, the lip will spring into the notch, G. The block will be prevented from withdrawal therefrom because of the engagement of the end of the lip, B, with the shoulder on the end portion, J, forming the notch, G. In like manner the block, E, may be inserted in the opposite end of the locking box, L, until the lip, C, enters the notch, H, and holds the block from withdrawal.

Instead of placing the blocks, D, E, on the ends of the cable, F, we may notch the wire forming the cable near its end and use the notched ends of the wire to make engagement with the lips, B, C, in the same manner as the blocks do.

It is understood that the blocks, D, E, and locking box, L, are very greatly exaggerated in size in the drawing, as in use the locking box is only about one-eighth of an inch in cross section.

The portion of the face of the plate, A, below the locking box, L, may contain the number of a car, together with the initial of the road or such matter as is convenient for reference, as shown in Fig. 8.

7e do not limit ourselves to the form of the folded lock port-ion, L, as instead of being square in cross section it might be of any other configuration that would permit of the inwardly projecting spring lips.

What We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A seal comprising a thin metallic plate having inwardly projecting lips cut therein; said plate folded to form a box open at the ends; a portion of the plate thus folded covering the openings formed by cutting said lips; a Wire provided With notched means at its ends adapted to enter said box and engage said lips.

2. A seal comprising a thin metallic plate having an inwardly projecting lip cut therein; said plate folded to form a box or casing; a portion of the plate covering the opening formed by cutting said lip; a portion of the plate extendingbeyond said folded portion; a Wire; one end of said Wire provided With a notched means into Which said lip projects When the Wire is forced into the box, the end of the lip engaging the Wall of the notch and preventing the Withdrawal of the Wire; the other end of said Wire connected With said box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have afl'ixed our signatures in presence of tWo Witnesses.

WILLIAM O MARTINEAU. EDWARD J. AUSTIN.

Witnesses Lo'r'rm PRIOR, BEULAH CARLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

